Losing some hair every day is normal. Here’s how to tell when it isn’t, what the pattern of your hair loss reveals, and the common, often fixable causes.
Most women shed 50 to 100 hairs a day, so some hair in your brush or the drain is normal. The most common causes of hair loss in women are female pattern thinning, which is often genetic and increases after menopause, and telogen effluvium, a sudden shedding two to three months after childbirth, illness, surgery, stress or a crash diet. Other frequent causes are low iron, thyroid problems, PCOS and some medicines. Many of these are easy to test for and treat. Hair loss in patches, a receding hairline, or a sore, itchy or scaly scalp should be checked by a doctor.
What the pattern of your hair loss can tell you
| What you notice | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Thinning on top, a wider part, hairline unchanged | Female pattern hair loss |
| Lots of hair falling out all over, 2 to 3 months after a big event | Telogen effluvium |
| Round, smooth bald patches | Alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition |
| Thinning at the temples or hairline after tight hairstyles | Traction alopecia |
| A receding front hairline, sometimes with eyebrow loss, after menopause | Frontal fibrosing alopecia, a scarring type that needs prompt care |
| Itchy, flaky or red scalp | A scalp condition, such as dermatitis or a fungal infection |
The other symptoms that come with it
Hair loss rarely comes alone. The symptoms that travel with it are often the best clue to the cause:
| Hair loss plus… | Worth checking |
|---|---|
| Tiredness, feeling cold, dry skin, weight gain | An underactive thyroid |
| Heavy periods, tiredness, breathlessness, pale skin | Low iron |
| Acne, chin hair, irregular periods | PCOS or high androgens |
| Hot flashes, night sweats, dryness, poorer sleep | Perimenopause or menopause |
| A recent birth, tiredness, broken sleep | Postpartum shedding |
| Stress, anxiety or a recent illness | Telogen effluvium |
| A facial rash, joint pain, sensitivity to sun | An autoimmune condition such as lupus |
Write down every symptom you’ve noticed, not just your hair. It makes your appointment far more useful.
Common causes, by life stage
After pregnancy. Hair often sheds heavily three to four months after giving birth, as hormones return to normal. It almost always recovers within a year. See postpartum hair loss for the full timeline.
With PCOS or irregular periods. Higher androgen levels can thin hair on top, often with acne or extra facial hair. See our guide to spironolactone for PCOS.
In perimenopause and menopause. Falling estrogen makes hair finer and thinner. See menopause hair loss.
At any age:
- Low iron, especially with heavy periods or a vegetarian diet. Ask your doctor to check your ferritin.
- Thyroid problems, both underactive and overactive.
- Stress, illness or fever, including after a bad flu or COVID.
- Crash dieting or low protein.
- Stopping birth control pills.
- Medicines, including some antidepressants, blood thinners, acne medicines such as isotretinoin, high-dose vitamin A, and chemotherapy.
- Tight hairstyles and harsh treatments, such as braids, weaves, bleaching and heat.
The tests that often find the cause
Your doctor may check:
- iron stores (ferritin) and a blood count
- thyroid function
- vitamin D
- hormone levels, if you have irregular periods, acne or extra hair growth
Many women find a fixable cause, especially low iron or a thyroid problem, and their hair recovers once it’s treated. For the treatments that help when thinning continues, see female hair loss treatment.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor or dermatologist if:
- your hair is falling out suddenly or in patches
- your front hairline or eyebrows are thinning
- your scalp is itchy, sore, red or scaly
- hair loss comes with tiredness, weight change, irregular periods or acne
Some scarring types of hair loss can become permanent if not treated early, so don’t wait if you notice patches or a receding hairline.
The Chinese medicine view
Chinese medicine has a classical saying: “hair is the surplus of blood,” and the Kidney’s vitality is said to show in the hair. Thinning hair is traditionally linked to depleted blood or Kidney essence, and sudden shedding after stress to disturbed Liver Qi. TCM looks at hair as part of the whole body, not just the scalp. These are traditional descriptions, not a diagnosis.
A whole-body routine for your stage of life
None of our pouches is a hair treatment, and none has been studied for hair. But if your hair loss is part of a bigger change, a whole-body routine may suit you alongside your doctor’s care:
- In menopause, with tiredness, dryness or poor sleep: Feminine Vitality
- After pregnancy, with tiredness and recovery: Postpartum Recovery
- With irregular periods: CycleBalance
Each is a sealed herbal pouch worn over the navel and held by a reusable belt, with nothing to swallow.
See Feminine Vitality’s directions →
Reviewed October 2026. Author: Qingcai Wang, MD, PhD, developer of the Five Essences external herbal-pouch formulations, with a commercial interest in their sale. General education only; continue your medical care.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology: hair loss in women; NHS: hair loss.